One Godhead
- Perfect unity of purpose
- Perfect agreement in will
- One saving work
- Three distinct divine members
Articles of Faith 1:1; 3 Nephi 11:27; John 17:20-23
Model Overview
Latter-day Saints commonly use the term Godhead rather than the Nicene term Trinity. The model is not one divine substance shared by three persons. It is a united divine council of three distinct members.
God the Father
The Father is a distinct, embodied, glorified divine being.
Joseph Smith-History 1:17; Doctrine and Covenants 130:22
Role: Father of spirits and object of worship.
Jesus Christ
The Son is Jehovah, Redeemer, resurrected Lord, and distinct from the Father.
John 17:3; 3 Nephi 11:7-11; Doctrine and Covenants 130:22
Role: Mediator, Savior, and perfect revealer of the Father.
The Holy Ghost
The Holy Ghost is a distinct personage of spirit who witnesses of the Father and Son.
John 14:26; Moroni 10:5; Doctrine and Covenants 130:22
Role: Revelator, sanctifier, comforter, and divine witness.
Unity Without Consubstantiality
In classical Trinitarian language, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are distinct persons who share one divine essence. In Latter-day Saint teaching, the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost are distinct beings whose unity is relational, moral, covenantal, and purposive.
Classical Nicene Frame
One divine being or essence; three coequal, coeternal persons.
Latter-day Saint Frame
Three distinct divine beings; one Godhead in complete unity and saving purpose.
Matthew 3:16-17; John 17:20-23; Articles of Faith 1:1
Rendered Relationship Diagram
The diagram emphasizes distinction of beings and unity of divine work rather than shared substance or relations of origin.
classDiagram
class Godhead {
+perfectUnityOfPurpose : boolean
+oneSavingWork : boolean
+oneInGloryAndLove : boolean
}
class HeavenlyFather {
+embodied : boolean
+glorified : boolean
+fatherOfSpirits : boolean
}
class JesusChrist {
+embodied : boolean
+resurrected : boolean
+redeemer : boolean
}
class HolyGhost {
+personageOfSpirit : boolean
+witness : boolean
+sanctifier : boolean
}
Godhead o-- HeavenlyFather : includes
Godhead o-- JesusChrist : includes
Godhead o-- HolyGhost : includes
HeavenlyFather --> JesusChrist : sends and bears witness of
JesusChrist --> HeavenlyFather : reveals and obeys
HolyGhost --> HeavenlyFather : witnesses of
HolyGhost --> JesusChrist : witnesses of
Teaching Boundaries
Affirms: Father, Son, and Holy Ghost are each divine and are named together in scripture and ordinance.
Distinguishes: They are not interpreted as one immaterial substance or one being in three persons.
Centers: Their oneness is shown most clearly in Christ's prayer that disciples may become one as the Father and Son are one.
Reference Anchors
Common Latter-day Saint reference points include Articles of Faith 1:1, Doctrine and Covenants 130:22, Joseph Smith-History 1:17, 3 Nephi 11:7-11, Moroni 10:5, Matthew 3:16-17, and John 17:20-23.
This page is a pedagogical comparison aid. It should not be treated as an official statement for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.